Paul concluded last time in Verse 11 that we were all sinners until we came to faith in Christ. Then we were washed (baptized), sanctified (made holy), and justified (forgiven) in the names of both the Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of God. In this context, Paul urges us to flee from sexual immorality:
“’All things are lawful for me,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful for me,’ but I will not be dominated by anything. ‘Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food’ – and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body” (1 Cor 6:12-13).
In saying that all things are lawful for him, Paul is referring to the Law of Moses, which is superseded by the freedom of Christ. But in that freedom lies many things that are not moral, things that can destroy in excess. Using food as an example, the stomach is meant to digest food for the health of the body, but addiction to food can kill us as both the stomach and the food are destroyed by God. So also the body is designed for the Lord, which includes sexual union between a man and a woman, in perfect unity. But in excess outside of marriage, immorality can destroy the body and leave us in desperate disunity, both from a human perspective and from God.
“And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, ‘The two will become one flesh’” (1 Cor 6:14-16; Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5).
This should be enough to terrify anyone. And Paul has the answer to this temptation:
“But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Cor 6:17-20).
No matter where you are or where you have been, be joined to the Lord Jesus and never, ever look back. Make your body a temple of the Holy Spirit within you.
You were bought, that is, redeemed, for an incredibly high price – the life of the Savior himself.
Do it now!